# std::stack<T,Container>::top

From cppreference.com
< cpp‎ | container‎ | stack

reference top(); | (1) |
const_reference top() const; | (2) |

Returns reference to the top element in the stack. This is the most recently pushed element. This element will be removed on a call to pop(). Equivalent to: `c`.back().

### Parameters

(none)

### Return value

Reference to the last element.

### Complexity

Constant.

### Example

Run this code

    #include <iostream>
    #include <stack>

    void reportStackSize(const std::stack<int>& s)
    {
        std::cout << s.size() << " elements on stack\n";
    }

    void reportStackTop(const std::stack<int>& s)
    {
        // Leaves element on stack
        std::cout << "Top element: " << s.top() << '\n';
    }

    int main()
    {
        std::stack<int> s;
        s.push(2);
        s.push(6);
        s.push(51);

        reportStackSize(s);
        reportStackTop(s);

        reportStackSize(s);
        s.pop();

        reportStackSize(s);
        reportStackTop(s);
    }

Output:

    3 elements on stack
    Top element: 51
    3 elements on stack
    2 elements on stack
    Top element: 6

### See also

push | inserts element at the top (public member function)
pop | removes the top element (public member function)

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